The place, the day, the hour, even.
Today — this moment — would have, should have, been their anniversary.
Standing on the bridge, Danny turned away from the water. Closing his eyes, he covered his face with his hands.
Then he heard it.
Thump, thump, thump.
So very like that fateful morning. And like that morning, someone was now standing in front of Danny, someone slightly out of breath, moving closer, close enough for Danny to feel the warmth of another body, breath ghosting over the back of his hands.
"Are you okay?"
It was his voice, Alex's voice. Close. Real.
Impossible.
Danny wanted to answer him, to say the words, as if evoking a ritual:
"I'm fine, I'll always be fine if only —"
Paralysed, he stayed quiet, stunned.
"Danny?"
The touch of fingers, gentle, hesitating, as if the apparition was afraid to frighten Danny. Unexpectedly, the realisation had him smiling. When he lifted his head and opened his eyes, he was met with an unsure smile from sincere, beloved eyes. Without another word, Danny slowly closed the space between them, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. When they parted, they held each others gaze, drawing one another back into a tight embrace. The world around them fell away, the last months forgotten. No words were heard, but they were talking. They were telling tales of sorrow and grief, of loneliness and despair, of survival and strength; telling it through a caress, through a tear caught on its way over blushing skin; through a kiss unfolding the story of betrayal and weakness. Wordlessly Alex explained and Danny forgave.
Both of them knowing and understanding, both of them renewing their silent promises to each other.
An eternity became a blink of an eye and a moment turned into forever.